A new study shows that lightweight expanded clay aggregates, a common building material, are flooding Portugal’s beaches. Researchers walked along 50‑meter stretches of shore at eight different spots around Aveiro, from open ocean dunes to sheltered lagoon edges and a busy port channel. At eve
California's Salton Sea used to be a vacation hotspot in the mid-1900s with its sandy beaches and celebrity visitors. But decades of water mismanagement have turned this 340-square-mile lake into a drying disaster zone. As water disappears, it leaves behind a toxic mix of old pesticides, heavy metal
A major tech company wants to build a huge data center near Memphis, Tennessee, using 27 gas turbines to power its operations. The problem? They haven\'t gotten the proper air quality permits, and critics say this could harm the health of people living nearby. The NAACP is now taking legal action, a
The Clairton coke plant in Pennsylvania keeps operating despite a history of toxic leaks and fines. The factory turns coal into coke using ovens heated to 2, 000 degrees, releasing benzene and sulfur dioxide that harm nearby kids. Studies show children within a mile of plants like Clairton have asth
Cities everywhere have a hidden problem—tiny bits of pollution so small they slip past most filters. These specks, called ultrafine particles, are smaller than a speck of dust and can travel deep into your body. Unlike bigger pollution particles that get studied a lot, these are often ignored becaus
Scientists collected tiny plastic fragments that float in three coastal areas, each with a different mix of ships and tourists. They focused on polyethylene pieces because it is common in the sea. Using a technique that shines infrared light onto the plastic, they recorded how the molecules vibrate.
Air quality today is a different beast than it was decades ago. While the government has cut back on lead and sulfur dioxide, new dangers have taken center stage: tiny particles from factories, cars and power plants; ozone that forms under the sun; and smoke that travels far beyond its source. The
Shrimp farming is booming along tropical coasts, but scientists still argue over whether these operations leak harmful metals into nearby mangrove swamps. A recent study took a close look at Todos os Santos Bay in Brazil, where shrimp ponds sit right next to mangroves. Researchers tested mud from th
Big cities often promise excitement, but they also bring dirty air. Now a large study in the UK is asking if breathing that air for years might harm the nerves in our bodies. Scientists tracked thousands of adults over time to see whether heavy exposure to tiny floating particles and gases from traf
Scientists recently found traces of PFOS, a long-lasting chemical, inside honey and the bees that make it. These substances stick around in nature for years, building up in the environment and even inside living things. For bees, even small doses can mess with their growth. Young bees exposed to PFO
